Switch-operating mechanism.



E. J. KNOWLTON.

SWITCH OPERATING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1911.

Patented May 6, 1913.

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W/TNESSES ATTORNEYS LOLUMEIA PLANOGRM-N Co.. WASMINGmN. Il. c.

E. J. KNOWLTON.

SWITCH OPERATING MEGHANISM.

\ APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1911.

1,061,185. Patented May 6, 1913.

2 SHEETB-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNI J. KNOWLTON, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

To czZZ 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNI J. KNownroN, a citizen of the United States, and a `resident of Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch- Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in switch operating mechanism and particularly in that class of such mechanism wherein the devices for moving the switch are operated from a moving locomotive or car and the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of a track way provided with my i1nprovements. Fig. 2 is a detail longitudinal section on about line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 2:3 is a cross section on about line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross section on about line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail bottom plan view, partly in section, showing the cani, the drums and the means for operating the cam by hand. Fig. 6 is a detail longitudinal section showing the devices in t-he track way and the operating devices on the locomotive or car. Fig. 7 is a detail cross section illustrating the devices for operating the moving parts in the track way. Fig. 8 is a top plan view illustrating a construction wherein the switch point is operated directly from the cam.

In the construction shown in Fig. 1, the operating means are connected to a single switch point A, but it will be understood that where two opposite switch points are employed with a bar between them, the devices Inay be connected to such connecting bar to operate both switch points. As shown in Fig. 1, a lever B is connected at its front end to the switch point A, is pivoted between its ends at B and extends at its rear end into a cam groove C in a cam pulley C. This groove C has two circumferential p0rtions C2 diametrically opposite each other and in which the lever B rests both when the switch point is open and closed so that in such position of the switch point any accidental movement of the switch point or strain on the switch point, will not operate through the cam to move the operating devices. `The lever B has suflicient spring to enable the flange of a car coming from the left in Fig. 1 to pass between the switch Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 8, 1911.

vis meshed by a bevel gear Patented May 6, 1913.

Serial No. 648,262.

point and the rail. The cam C is on a shaft D and this shaft is also provided with drums FJ and It spaced apart and fixed to the shaft D so they may be moved to turn the shaft D in the operation of the device.

If used on steam railroads, the shaft D may be provided with a bevel gear D which F on a switch shaft F, which shaft F is supplied with a suitable semaphore F 2 and is also provided with a handle F3 by which it may be turned. This handle F operates within a keeper F4 and at its initial movement operates to depress a rod G whose lower end connects with one end of a pivoted lever H whose other end bears below a locking bar I, which operates in the manner presently described. It will be noticed that if one or the other of the drums E, E be turned, it will correspondingly turn the shaft D and by preference, I roughen the drums by corrugation or otherwise so they can be conveniently operated by an operating device in the form of a shoe depending from the train equipment and these drums E and E are provided with lflattened portions El and E11, those of the two drums being arranged diametrically opposite each other so that the flattened portion of one drum will be uppermost while the flattened portion of the other drum will be at the bottom thereof, as will be understood from Figs. 1, 4 and 5 of the drawings.

To prevent the drums from accidental movement, I provide the shaft above and below its axis with parts D2 in the form of bars extending between the drums E and E and which enter a notch I in the locking bar I, the said bar I being pivoted at I2 and weighted at its front end I3 so it will normally drop into engagement with the eooperating part on the shaft D. In the operation of the switch handle F3, the bar I3 can be released prior to the turning of the shaft D by the aid of the shaft F, but for releasing the locking bar I from a moving train, I prefer to employ the rockers J and J alined with their respective drums E and E and connected by a rod J2, which bearing upon the rear end of the locking bar I when the rockers are tilted from the position shown in Fig. Q, operates to release the locking bar. The rockers are weighted at J3 so they normally assume the position shown in Fig. 2, but where necessary or desirable, the springs J may be arranged as turned to operate the cam C until the lock` ing bar has been released and in the opera tion of the device by a shoe from a moving train, the said shoe will first bear upon the upper end of the rocker J or J and will then engage with the drum E or E to turn the same to move the cam and thus operate the switch point either to open or closed position as the case may be. It will also be noticed that the movement of the drums E and E and consequently of the shaft I) is always in the same direction, there being no reciprocal movement of the shaft. It may, in some instances, be desirable to omit the lever B and operate the switch point directly from the cam C and this may be accomplished by the construction shown in Fig. S of the drawings.

When the device is in use on astreet railroad and it is desired to operate the switch apart from a moving car, the shaft F being omitted ordinarily on street railroads, the switchman can operate the rocker J with one foot to release the locking bar I and then move the corresponding drum with his other foot or with a suitable push bar as may be desired. I prefer, however, to provide for operating the switch from a moving train and I illustrate in Fig. 6 a construction for this purpose. In this construction, a treadle K operates a bell crank lever L which by a rod M operates toggles N, spring actuated at N and carrying at their lower ends a shoe O which can be depressed as shown in Fig. 6 to operate the rocker and the drum in alinement therewith or can bel raised to the dotted line position to clear their respective rockers and drums, a spring M. on the rod M coperating awith the springs N in securing this result. The spring M aids in this operation by exerting a longitudinal tension on the rod M. The spring M is a tension spring tending to bend the toggle and so elevate shoe O and pedal II. The spring N is intended to overcome the up and down motion of the car and prevent a heavy j ar on the rocker O; also to allow the rocker O to pass over any small obstacle in the street and also to permit the rocker O to mount the drum E in passing over it.

Manifestly in the use of the invention, the operator on the car or' locomotive will lower the appropriate shoe O to engage with the drum E or E which he may desire to operate to throw the switch either to open or closed position as may be desired. It will be noticed that the cam groove is so gradual that no serious jar will be exerted upon the parts should the drums be operated by a rapidly moving train and that the circumferential portions C2 of the cam grooves will lock the switch point in such manner that a switch handle when the automatic operation is taking place.

I claim: l I

l. The combination substantially as herein described, of a switch point, a lever to operate said point, a cam operating said lever, a pair of drums operating said cam,

means for locking said drums from movement, devices for releasing said locking means to permit the operation of the cam by the movement of the drums, said releasing devices including rockers in alinement with? their respective drums, a hand operating means connected with the cam for operating the same, and means operated by the hand operating means for releasing the drum locking means, all substantially as and forv the purpose set forth.

2. rIhe combination of a switch point, a cam for operating said point, means for operating said cam, a bar for locking said operating means from movement, and a rocler having means for releasing said locking bar to permit the operation of the cam.

3. rIhe combination of a switch point, a pair of drums each having a Hat side with the flat side of one drum diametrically opposite that of the other, a pair of rockers in alinement with their respective drums, means for locking the drums from movement and arranged for operation by the rockers, and means whereby the drums mayy operate the switch point.

4:. The combination of a switch point, a cam for operating the same and having diametrically opposite circumferential portions, a shaft having means for operating they cam whereby to operate the switch point, bars in connection with said shaft, a locking bar having at one end a notch operating in connection with said bar to lock the shaft from turning and a rocker for operating l erating upon the other end of the bar to rey lease the same.

6. The combination with a switch point, a

pair of drums, and means whereby theturning of the drums may operate the switch point, of a locking bar for locking the drums from turning, and a pair of rockers having means for releasing said locking bar to permit the turning of the drums, substantially as set forth.

7 The combination with a switch point, a shaft having means for operating the switch point, and means for turning the shaft, of a lock for restraining said shaft from turning, a hand lever for turning the shaft by hand, and means operated by the said hand lever for releasing the shaft re` straining lock.

8. The combination of a switch point, a cam having a groove, means operating in said groove for moving the switch point, the said groove having inclined portions, and

diametrically opposite circumferential por- 20 tions, a drum moving intermittently in one direction for operating said cam7 the said drum having a [lat side whereby 'it may be operated by a shoe from above and the flat side will operate to stop the drum when moved to the desired extent.

9. The combination with a switch point, a drum having a flat side and intermediate devices whereby the turning of the drum will operate the point, of means for locking 30 the druln from turning, and devices arranged for operation by a shoe from above and provided with means for releasing the lock, substantially as set forth.

ERNI J KNOWLTON. Vitnesses SoLoN C. KEMON, PERRY B. TURPIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

